OLD SCABS

This is where you will find old SCAB posts. To read the latest posts, click here.

Olly Wood

On the first day of a new year at School of Communication Arts, our fresh intake of creative wizards were asked to take it in turns to write for SCAB. Olly stepped up to write his post first. Click here to read it.

The Dean

A-Level results come out tomorrow. Thousands of kids will be in tears, fearing that their lives are fucked after failing a few meaningless exams. Read the Dean’s post to find out why we never ask a candidate what grades they got in their A-levels.

Hilmi Ramlan

Today is the last day of term, and the end of BUSK’s time at SCA. They are all about to start placements in agencies.

Hilmi reflects on a hard year’s work, and how it feels to be in a state of limbo.

In a few days time, we tell BUSK where they are going on their placements and we will be publishing the news online soon.

Thank you for following SCAB this year, and for your wonderful support.

Tom Houser

It’s the last full day of term and the BUSK intake are about to leave School to start their work placements.

To celebrate their incredible achievements, Tom has decided to bestow BUSKERS with prestigious awards, titles and fame. Click here to find out who has been awarded ‘Most Morbid’, ‘Dark Prince of Innuendo’ and the ‘Margeret Thatcher Award for Terrifying Determination’.

Dan Wallace

It is a massive day at the School today. 23 top advertising agencies are visiting to choose who they want on placement. Another 15 agencies are reviewing portfolios online. This is what the students have been working towards for the past nine months.

Dan belongs to an intake running 3-months behind the students who are showing today. Today, Dan is watching and learning. He is a fly on the wall. Read his description of events and emotions here.

Jon Farley

In today’s post, Jon explains the value of failing fast. Our industry seems to attract perfectionists, and it is right that we should never put less than 100% into our work. But iteration is as important as inspiration, as explained by Jon here.

Jon also references one of the Dean’s favourite recent campaigns – and includes a link to the campaign’s case study. Well worth watching. Good shout, Jon.

Lewis Beaton

You wouldn’t guess by looking at his profile picture, but Lewis is not much of a smiler. In fact, his nickname at the School is #WHINNING and some of naughtier students have riffed on some Charlie Sheen quotes, replacing the actor’s face with Lewis’.

But Lewis only ever moans for good reasons. In today’s post he finally explains why he has been such a miserable bastard all year. It makes sense Lewis, and we all love you like a brother. Now cheer up.

Oliver Tiersch

In today’s post Oliver wishes the Dean a happy birthday. Because of this, the Dean has promised not to mention the war, 5-1 or 1966 in the summary of his sumbission.

Moving on, Oliver introduces an exciting project that he is working on and calls for artists to collaborate with him.

Rory Tregaskis

Everyone’s third favourite communist discusses the quality of music in advertising.

Click here to read a fantastic post, crammed with links to examples and some wonderful thoughts about semiotics.

Corryn Boyes

In today’s SCAB post, Corryn reflects on how lucky she is to have discovered what she wants to do for a living.

Fans of Corryn should click here to see her modelling some of her fashion designs.

One look and you will agree that she made the right choice. Advertising suits her better.

Ross Bailey

Ross ‘the brand’ Bailey is one of three ideapreneurs at the school. He has created an amazing company that promises to revolutionise the High Street.

Olivia Solon works for Wired Magazine and tweeted a rather rude message about ideapreneurs a few days ago.

Ross decided to write a response to that tweet and share his thoughts with you.

Here it is.

Carolina Torres

At the beginning of the year, The Dean announced the school moto as “We Sell, or We Die”.

Carol wasn’t impressed.

Read what Carol thinks about advertising, now that she’s spent a year being told the same message.

We Sell, or We Die.

The Dean

The Dean is speaking at the Sunday Times Festival of Education on Sunday 26th June.

He wrote this post is the hope that it might double the number of people in the room.

To two! Read his post to find out why.

Ana Melo

Today’s post comes from everyone’s favourite Portugese Princess.

Ana has won awards in advertising, but she loves to dance. You should see her doing The Nutcracker.

In today’s post, Ana discusses the relationship between advertising and dance.

Read her SCAB contribution here.

Jenni Corbett

Jenni is back with another installment of SCAB.

With just a few weeks to go until we send our BUSK students out into the world, to work in some of the best ad agencies in town, stress levels are up a notch.

Jenni takes a look back at the year, and forwards at what’s to come. Read her thoughts here.

Victoria Trow

This is Victoria’s second stab at SCAB. Her previous post provoked conversation about The Apprentice.

For her follow-up, Victoria was told to write between 200 and 2,000 words of copy.

Today’s post is exactly 200 words. Find out why. Click this red link.

Charlie Herman

Charlie is one of our gifted Art Director students. He loves all things visual.

In today’s episode of SCAB, Charlie confesses to people watching.

In future episodes of SCAB, Charlie might confess to persuading passers-by to buy him drinks. Because Charlie is a gifted Art Director who also has the gift of being able to drink inordinate amounts of free alcohol.

Matthew Markham

We have a slightly more visual SCAB post to start you off this week, because today’s effort comes from one of our art director students, Matthew Markham.

Matthew introduces us to his favourite photographer, Tim Walker.

“I love getting whisked away into some beautiful and bizarre place with him,” says one half of the team that made our While Bull Army video (see student work page).

Click here to read Matthew’s post.

Thomas Evans

This is Thomas‘ second post for SCAB.

Thomas takes us through a journey of what a day in his life might look like if it was powered by gamification.

Some of his ideas may seem outragious or ‘far out there’. But that’s what makes Thomas and his partner Matthew so employable.

If there is any doubt of this, then take a look at their White Bull Army video here.

Alex Moore

“There are two main projects that define my time as an art student. One was setting up a cult. The other was a year long attempt to become psychic.”

Today’s post comes from art-director-come-copywriter-come-religious-icon, Alex Moore.

Click here to find out why we call Alex the ‘Vauxhall Messiah’.

Donations welcome.

Sam Jenkins

Another brilliant post from copywriter-come-art-director-come-ideapreneur, Sam Jenkins.

In today’s installment of SCAB, Sam talks about the relationship between a healthy mind and a healthy body.

Those that know her will know that in this post, Sam is reminding herself of her duties (to take good care of her health) as much as she is advising all aspiring creatives.

Jack Cheetham

Jack is following the ideapreneur pathway and will leave SCA in the summer with two fledgling businesses.

In today’s post, Jack talks openly and honestly about his desire to make money doing something he feels passionately about.

And he does so whilst taking a dig at businesses that hype up their valuations without any sign of turning a profit.

Jon Farley

Jon is slightly older than most of his fellow students. In fact, he gave up a job in management to join SCA.

Most of the time, Jon’s age is an advantage to him. He remembers more ads than his peers. He has read more. He has lived more.

However, today’s post includes a reference to Winston Churchill. Jon, are you really that old?

Dan Wallace

Dan Wallace had the misfortune of being scheduled to write his SCAB post on the day of his 21st birthday.

The morning after his 21st birthday, Dan is leading a live pitch on a massive job.

Dan has made countless sacrifices to pursue his passion for advertising. This post is about those sacrifices.

Tom Houser

This post from Tom contains more links than breakfast TV, but every link is worth exploring.

Tom has been hoarding some of his favourite online discoveries over the past few weeks in anticipation of today’ blog post.

Discover your new favourite sites and services here.

Cooper Stevenson

I’ve found an Elysian field on the outskirts of Ad-Land—a weird sort of paradise—propheted by a shock-haired, fancy-pantsed man named Marc.

Do you want to read more? Then follow this link for pure, unadulterated W.C. Stevenson goodness.

Corryn Boyes

With just six weeks to go at school, BUSK students are starting to feel the pressure. A pattern is starting to develop in the subject matter dealt by SCAB posts.

Corryn ate her bodyweight in biscuits writing this article to alleviate the stress.

Mind you, she doesn’t weigh much.

Hilmi Ramlan

At twitter headquarters they have a server tower dedicated to hosting Hilmi’s flow of tweets. Mostly, these tweets carry instagram pictures showing whatever meal Hilmi has just cooked-up in his kitchen.

In today’s post, Hilmi explains why social media is so important to him. Read this for valuable insights into how these new communication channels are transforming relationships and politics worldwide.

Emmanuel Edeh

Today’s post is delivered from the heart and soul. Just like all good communication should be.

Emmanuel was the first winner of an Ideas Foundation scholarship and we couldn’t ask for a better ambassador to represent this important partnership.

JHR Moolark

If you follow art director JHR Moolark on twitter then you already know him as an enigma.

We have all been waiting for him to make his debut on SCAB, and here it is.

Moolark discusses the Dean’s favourite mantra, ‘We Sell Or We Die’.

Next week, the Dean will respond by discussing Moolark’s favourite mantra, ‘BOOM’

Nathan Holley

Nathan has fallen in love with inforgraphics.

In today’s post, Nathan explains why he finds infographics so magical and he shares his favourite infographic websites.

So this post is infographic-porn. To be honest, we at SCA are all so relieved that Nathan has fallen in love with infographics.

Because nobody wants to see the type of porn that Nathan was planning to write about before he discovered infographics.

Oliver Tiersch

It’s a Bank Holiday for our British students, but German copywriter Oliver never stops working.

Worryingly, he writes about passion and Adah, the School’s Mother Hen.

Thankfully, it’s nothing that you wouldn’t want your grandmother to read.

Interestingly, Oliver’s post ends with a before & after picture of his dinner. Danke schön.

Rory Tregaskis

After two days of healing, SCAB is back. Will you picket?

Today’s post is by our resident lefty, copywriter Rory.

He says that this might be his career suicide note. We disagree. Our industry needs people with integrity, honour and empathy.

Alex Lucas

Alex, a copywriter in the LOVECHILD intake, writes his first post for SCAB.

He makes some great points about the digital world that we now live in, brought about after an insightful night out with the @CreativeSocial crew.

Read Alex’ post here.

Dan Mountain

Today we welcome the first post by a LOVECHILD student.
Dan Mountain joined SCA in January and is keeping his options open.
He is considering whether to focus on the Ideapreneur or Art Director pathway. His post explores the changing structure of creative teams in advertising. Click here to read what Dan is thinking.

Will Chapman

Will is back. He couldn’t keep away.

Click here to read him spitting lyrics about privacy and identity.

The Dean

Whilst the students work hard to hit Monday deadlines, the Dean has again hijacked their blog page.

In today’s post the Dean proposes a solution to the brouhaha about super-injunctions and Twitter lawsuits. Normally the Dean would make apologies for hijacking the student blog page, but he has noticed an increase in traffic whenever he does so. And he hopes that this extra traffic might convert into more giggs for his students when they graduate. Imogen that.

Read how football can save media here.

Will Chapman

Will Chapman is a university student, who decided to study at SCA during his work placement year at uni.

Is he crazy? Does he have an unnatural passion for learning? A fetish for teachers?

Discover what Will thinks about University now that he is an SCA Ideapreneur.

Click here for more.

Ross Bailey

Ross Bailey is one of 3 Ideapreneurs working towards launching a business at the school.

And this is the very first post by an Ideapreneur students.

Ross discusses one of our favourite mantras at the School, ‘We sell, or we die’.